Just when I thought I could not love Seth Rogen any more than I already did after this summer’s “Pineapple Express,” his new movie “Zack and Miri Make a Porno” proved me wrong. Directed and written by Kevin Smith, who’s responsible for such hits as “Clerks” and “Mallrats” (as well as the flop “Jersey Girl”), “Zack and Miri Make a Porno” is about exactly what you’d think it was about based on the title.
Zack (Rogen) and Miri (Elizabeth Banks) are two best friends who live together and struggle to pay their bills. After attending their 10-year high school reunion and finding out that one of their classmates is making a decent living working in the pornography industry, the two decide to try it themselves.
What ensues is a hilarious, raunchy, and, at times, awkward and sweet story. Zack and Miri have to deal with what happens when two best friends have sex and how, despite promises otherwise, it changes them and complicates their relationship.
That a movie about making a dirty movie can be sweet shows just how unique and original “Zack and Miri Make a Porno” is. It’s not about a bunch of pervy horndogs looking to objectify women and get paid to have sex with strangers. It’s about two friends doing whatever it takes to not get evicted. They put aside their fears and, arguably, their dignity to not let each other down. It is a dirty movie with tons of crude humor, foul language, and nudity, but it’s a dirty movie with heart, something that sets it apart from other movies that are dirty just for the sake of being dirty. Its tale of desperation is something anyone can relate to.
While all the acting in the film is great, Rogen makes the movie. His awkward, goofy, everyman portrayal of Zack is what allows the movie to tow the line between dirty and sweet. Upon first seeing a commercial for the movie, I was unsure of how I felt about Banks (who was in “W.” and will be in the upcoming “Role Models”) playing Miri, but she quickly won me over. Miri couldn’t be the average girly girl. She had to be able to hang with the guys to make her friendship with Zack believable, and Banks certainly achieved that.
And what would a Kevin Smith movie be without Jason Mewes? Mewes (who has been in virtually every successful Smith movie) plays Lester, one of the actors in Zack and Miri’s porno. As he is in most of his roles, Mewes is endearingly creepy. Also joining Smith for yet another movie together is Jeff Anderson, who plays Deacon, the cameraman.
Another notable, but unfortunately small character is Brandon, played by Justin Long (“Alvin and the Chipmunks,” “Waiting”). I feel that no words I can write will do this character justice. He is just too amazing and must be seen for oneself.
“Zack and Miri Make a Porno” is obviously not for people who have problems with profanity and sexuality. The two should be expected with a movie about making a pornographic film. But if viewers can get past that, I’m sure they’d find the movie quite enjoyable. To those with doubts about the movie, I’d say give it a chance. It just might surprise you.